Trips & tickets
Paddle along the volcanic cliffs to coves reached only from the sea, then snorkel with a full-face mask. A drink at the end is included.
A guided cruise from San José past untouched coves, old volcanoes and the ruins of watchtowers and castles.
Two hours in a small boat (11 passengers at most) past coves, volcanic cliffs and sea caves, with a swim and snorkel stop; mask included.
The full GetYourGuide listing for Cabo de Gata — boat trips, kayak and snorkel outings, 4x4 tours and guided walks, with live prices.
Cabo de Gata is a natural park of volcanic cliffs, dry hills and small coves on the coast of Almería. Many of its best beaches are reached on foot or from the sea, which is why boat trips from San José and kayak outings are so popular.
Beyond the water there are 4x4 tours of the interior and guided walks along the coastal paths. These pages compare the ways to see the park and what each involves.
Plan it properly
Getting to Cabo de Gata-Níjar: the bus from Almería to San José (€3.10), driving via the E-15, the summer access rules for Mónsul and Genoveses (€6 per vehicle, 20 km/h), the Los Muertos car park and path, and the boat to Cala San Pedro.
A guide to Cabo de Gata's beaches: Genoveses and its kilometre-long bay, Mónsul's lava rocks, Los Muertos and its 700-metre path, Cala San Pedro by boat from Las Negras, the tiny cove at the Mermaid Reef, and how to see the coves from the sea.
Beyond the beaches of Cabo de Gata: volcanoes active 16 to 8 million years ago, Mesa Roldán's fossil reef, the salt flats and their flamingos, the 1863 lighthouse and Mermaid Reef, snorkelling in the marine reserve, the Rodalquilar gold mines and the best time to visit.
The coast
Photographs licensed from Shutterstock.
In summer only until the car parks fill: motor vehicles pay a single €6 fee, the speed limit on the track is 20 km/h, and the barrier closes at set hours or early when the car parks are full. A shuttle bus from San José drops you at the beach access points, and walking or cycling is free. Outside the summer regulation access is free, but you must park in the designated car parks. The dates change each year.
From the sea. Kayak and snorkel tours take 3 hours; boat trips run from San José (1 hour 45 minutes) and from Carboneras (2 hours, 11 passengers at most).
Trips depend on wind and swell. The small-boat route from Carboneras, for example, notifies you and refunds if the sea doesn't allow it.
Yes — a 2-hour 4x4 tour from Almería covers a volcano-top viewpoint, the salt flats and their flamingos, and the Mermaid Reef.